Dragon Age: The Veilguard's Solas: Early Concepts Reveal a Darker God
Early concept sketches for Dragon Age: The Veilguard offer a fascinating glimpse into the evolution of Solas, revealing a more vengeful and overtly godlike persona than seen in the final game. These sketches, shared by former BioWare artist Nick Thornborrow, shed light on the creative process and potential story alterations during the game's development.
Thornborrow, who contributed to The Veilguard's development even after leaving BioWare in 2022, created a visual novel to help convey story ideas. Over 100 sketches from this visual novel, recently showcased on his website, depict various characters and scenes. While many elements made it into the final game, Solas' portrayal shows significant differences.
In The Veilguard, Solas primarily acts as a dream-visiting advisor. However, the concept art paints a far more sinister picture. Sketches depict Solas as a colossal, shadowy figure, directly enacting his vengeful plans, rather than the more subtle approach in the released game. The ambiguity remains whether these dramatic scenes represent events within Rook's dreams or actual occurrences in the real world.
While some scenes, like Solas' initial attempt to tear the Veil, remain largely consistent between concept and final product, others are drastically altered. This divergence highlights the substantial changes the game underwent during its development, a fact already suspected by fans given the time gap between Dragon Age: Inquisition and The Veilguard, and the last-minute title change from Dragon Age: Dreadwolf.
Thornborrow's behind-the-scenes look offers valuable insight into the creative journey of The Veilguard, bridging the gap between initial concepts and the final game's narrative. The contrast between the early, more overtly vengeful Solas and his final, more subtly manipulative role provides a compelling perspective on the game's development and the character's evolution.
